Device with elastic deformation for retaining a flexible curtain of a vertically-opening goods-handling door

ABSTRACT

The vertically-opening goods-handling door includes an elastic retaining device ( 10 ) which include retaining elements ( 11 ) which, on the one hand, allow the screen or the flexible curtain ( 12 ) to be kept in a movement path between an open position and a closed position and, on the other hand, in the event of an anomaly, allow the screen or the flexible curtain ( 12 ) to deform elastically without the risk of the screen or of the flexible curtain ( 12 ) becoming unhinged or ejected from the lateral uprights ( 13, 14 ) and to revert to its initial shape after the anomaly has disappeared.

The present invention relates to a device with elastic deformation for retaining a flexible curtain of a vertically-opening goods-handling door.

At the present time, rapidly vertically-opening flexible doors are known that comprise means for retaining the screen or the flexible curtain which means consist of stiffeners or of semirigid steel or composite transverse bars arranged at regular intervals over the entire height of the screen or of the flexible curtain.

The stiffeners or semirigid steel or composite transverse bars are generally arranged inside sheaths formed within the thickness of the screen or of the flexible curtain.

The stiffeners or semirigid steel or composite transverse bars are guided at each end in the vertical uprights of the goods-handling door in order to guide and retain the screen or the flexible curtain in the region that is to be closed off between a closed position and an open position.

The entirely relative flexibility of the stiffeners or of the semirigid steel or composite transverse bars and/or the flexibility of the guides secured to the vertical and lateral uprights allow the screen or the flexible curtain to unhinge or leave the guides and/or to leave the vertical and lateral uprights when an excessive external force is applied to one of said sides of said screen or of said flexible curtain.

There are numerous things that can cause this force, but the main causes are raised pressure due to the wind or a collision with a body passing through the opening (forklift trucks, vehicle, etc.). Unhinging affords protection to the elements that make up the goods-handling door, namely the vertical uprights and/or the screen or flexible curtain.

The elastic retaining device according to the present invention is aimed at replacing the stiffeners or semirigid or flexible transverse bars with elastic elements which, on the one hand, allow the screen or the flexible curtain to be kept in its movement path between an open position and a closed position and, on the other hand, in the event of an anomaly, allow the screen or the flexible curtain to deform without the risk of said screen or of said flexible curtain becoming unhinged or ejected from the guides secured to the lateral uprights of the goods-handling door and to revert to its initial shape after the anomaly has disappeared.

Thus, the vertically-opening goods-handling door comprising a screen or flexible curtain according to the present invention comprises an elastic retaining device which consists of retaining means which, on the one hand, allow the screen or the flexible curtain to be kept in a movement path between an open position and a closed position and, on the other hand, in the event of an anomaly, allow the screen or the flexible curtain to deform elastically without the risk of said screen or of said flexible curtain becoming unhinged or ejected from the lateral uprights and to revert to its initial shape after the anomaly has disappeared.

The vertically-opening goods-handling door according to the present invention comprises an elastic retaining device of which the retaining means consist of anchoring elements able to move in a vertical direction inside a profile formed in the lateral and vertical uprights and of flexible and elastic elements housed inside sheaths arranged within the thickness of the screen or of the flexible curtain and at regular intervals along the entire height thereof.

The vertically-opening goods-handling door according to the present invention comprises an elastic retaining device of which each anchoring element comprises a first part of a shape that complements the internal shape of the profile secured to the vertical uprights so as to provide said anchoring element with vertical guidance, and a second part allowing the corresponding flexible and elastic element to pass and/or retaining it.

The vertically-opening goods-handling door according to the present invention comprises an elastic retaining device of which the second part of each anchoring element is provided on the one hand in the continuation of the first part and on the other hand pierced with a bore for the free passage of the corresponding flexible and elastic element, and in that each flexible and elastic element consists of an elastic tie with a discontinuous profile, of which each end is fixed, after having passed through the bore, to the screen or flexible curtain at the lateral edges thereof.

The vertically-opening goods-handling door according to the present invention comprises an elastic retaining device of which the end of each elastic tie is fixed to the screen or the flexible curtain by knitting, bonding, welding or riveting.

The vertically-opening goods-handling door according to the present invention comprises an elastic retaining device of which each anchoring element comprises a first part having an external profile intended to provide guidance inside the internal profile secured to the vertical uprights and a second part consisting of an internal bore passing right through said first part and inside which the free end of an elastic tie that forms the flexible and elastic element is immobilized.

The vertically-opening goods-handling door according to the present invention comprises an elastic retaining device of which the elastic tie is fixed inside the anchoring element by means of a binding screw screwed into the first part and emerging at right angles inside the bore of the second part in order to lock the free end of the elastic tie inside said bore.

The vertically-opening goods-handling door according to the present invention comprises an elastic retaining device comprising a protective end stop which is positioned on the elastic tie and on the screen or flexible curtain between the anchoring element and the corresponding lateral edge of said screen or said flexible curtain.

The vertically-opening goods-handling door according to the present invention comprises retaining means comprising, around the elastic tie and between the anchoring elements positioned inside the rails of each vertical upright, an arrangement of tubes or spacer pieces and of spherical olives allowing said elastic tie to be tensioned while at the same time ensuring that said anchoring elements have a functional clearance inside said rails.

The vertically-opening goods-handling door according to the present invention comprises retaining means of which the tubes or spacer pieces and the spherical olives have the elastic tie passing through them so that between each tube or spacer piece is positioned a spherical olive providing the deformable connection between each of said tubes or spacer pieces.

The vertically-opening goods-handling door according to the present invention comprises an elastic tie that has a round or flat external profile.

The following description of the attached drawings, which are given by way of nonlimiting examples, will provide a better understanding of the invention, of its features and of the advantages it is likely to afford:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a flexible door of the prior art comprising means for retaining the screen or the flexible curtain which means consist of stiffeners or of semirigid steel or composite transverse bars arranged at regular intervals over the entire height of the screen or of the flexible curtain.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are perspective views depicting a flexible curtain door comprising a device with elastic deformation for retaining the flexible curtain according to the present invention.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are perspective views depicting a flexible curtain door comprising another device with elastic deformation for retaining the flexible curtain according to the present invention.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are perspective views illustrating an alternative form of the device with elastic deformation for retaining the flexible curtain according to the present invention.

FIG. 1 shows a goods-handling door 1 of the prior art comprising means for retaining the screen or the flexible curtain 2 which consist of stiffeners 3 or of semirigid steel or composite transverse bars arranged at regular intervals over the entire height of the screen or of the flexible curtain.

The stiffeners or semirigid steel or composite transverse bars 3 are generally arranged inside sheaths 4 formed within the thickness of the screen or of the flexible curtain 2.

The stiffeners or semirigid steel or composite transverse bars 3 are guided at each end in the vertical uprights 5, 6 of the goods-handling door 1 to guide and retain the screen or the flexible curtain 2 in the region that is to be closed off between a closed position and an open position.

The entirely relative flexibility of the stiffeners or semirigid steel or composite transverse bars 3 and/or the flexibility of the guides secured to the vertical and lateral uprights 5, 6 allow the screen or the flexible curtain 2 to unhinge or leave the guides and/or the vertical and lateral uprights 5, 6 when an excessive external force is applied to one of said sides of said screen or of said flexible curtain 2.

There are numerous things that can cause this force, but the main causes are raised pressure due to the wind or a collision with a body passing through the opening (forklift trucks, vehicle, etc.). Unhinging affords protection to the elements that make up the goods-handling door 1, namely the vertical uprights 5, 6 and/or the screen or flexible curtain 2.

FIGS. 2 to 5 show an elastic retaining device 10 according to the present invention which is aimed at replacing the stiffeners or semirigid transverse bars 3 of the goods-handling doors 1 of the prior art.

The elastic retaining device 10 according to the present consists of retaining means 11 which, on the one hand, allow the screen or the flexible curtain 12 of the goods-handling door 100 to be kept in a movement path between an open position and a closed position and, on the other hand, in the event of an anomaly, allow the screen or the flexible curtain 12 to deform elastically without the risk of said screen or of said flexible curtain becoming unhinged or ejected from the lateral uprights 13, 14 of the goods-handling door 100.

The retaining means 11 consist of anchoring elements 15 that can move in a vertical direction inside a profile 16 formed in the lateral and vertical uprights 13, 14 of the goods-handling door 100 and of flexible and elastic elements 17 housed inside sheaths 18 arranged within the thickness of the screen or of the flexible curtain 12 and at regular intervals along the entire height thereof.

Each anchoring element 15 comprises a first part 15 a of a shape that complements the internal shape of the profile 16 secured to the vertical uprights 13, 14 so as to provide the anchoring element 15 with vertical guidance, and a second part 15 b allowing the corresponding flexible and elastic element 17 to pass and/or retaining it.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show an anchoring element 15 of the elastic retaining device 10 of which the second part 15 b provided in the continuation of the first part 15 a is pierced with a bore 15 c for the free passage of the corresponding flexible and elastic element 17.

For this purpose, each flexible and elastic element 17 consists of an elastic tie having an external profile that may be flat or round and of which each end 17 a is secured, after having passed through the bore 15 c formed in the second part 15 b of the anchoring element 15, to the screen or to the flexible curtain 12 at the lateral edges 12 a thereof.

The end 17 a of the elastic tie 17 is fixed to the screen or the flexible curtain 12 for example by knitting, bonding, welding or riveting.

In this exemplary embodiment, it may be noted that the profile of the anchoring element 15 and more particularly of the second part 15 b allows each continuous vertical and lateral edge 12 a of the screen or of the flexible curtain 12 to be held outside the guide profile 16 secured to the vertical uprights 13, 14.

FIGS. 4 and 5 depict another way of embodying the anchoring element 15 of the elastic retaining device 10 according to the present invention.

The anchoring element 15 comprises a first part 15 a that has an external profile intended to provide guidance inside the internal profile 16 secured to the vertical uprights 13, 14 and a second part 15 b consisting of an internal bore 15 d passing right through the first part 15 a and inside which the free end 17 a of the elastic tie 17 is immobilized.

The elastic tie 17 is inset inside the anchoring element 15 and fixed there, for example, using a binding screw, not depicted, which is screwed into the first part 15 a and emerges at right angles inside the bore 15 d of the second part 15 b in order to lock the free end 17 a of the elastic tie 17 inside said bore.

The tie 17 may be fixed inside the anchoring element 15 by any other means without that altering the subject matter of the present invention.

The anchoring elements 15 arranged at each end of each tie 17 may be associated with a protective end stop 19 which is positioned at the elastic tie 17 and on the screen or flexible curtain 12 between the anchoring element 15 and the corresponding lateral edge 12 a of said screen or of said flexible curtain.

Each end stop 19 prevents the lateral edges 12 a of the screen or of the flexible curtain 12 from coming into contact with the edge of the corresponding vertical upright 13, 14 of the goods-handling door 100.

Each protective end stop 19 has the corresponding elastic tie 17 passing through it in a region where this tie is free, that is to say in a region where the elastic tie 17 emerges from the sheath 18 of the screen or of the flexible curtain 12 and before its end 17 a is fixed either inside the anchoring element 15 or to said curtain.

In this way, the elastic retaining device 10 according to the present invention as illustrated earlier is capable of holding the screen or the flexible curtain 12 inside the uprights 13, 14 as it moves between an open position and a closed position and, in the event of an anomaly (an external impact or raised pressure), of allowing said screen or said flexible curtain 12 to deform, thanks to the elasticity of the tie 17, without leaving its guides or the anchoring element 15 and to do so until such time as this operational anomaly disappears, then allowing said screen or said curtain to revert to its initial shape.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show an alternative form of the retaining device 10 according to the present invention, of which the retaining means 11 allow the elastic tie 17 to be kept under tension in the sheath 18 of the screen or the flexible curtain 12 rather than between the rails of the uprights 13, 14 of the goods-handling door 100.

To do that, the retaining means 11 consist, around the elastic tie 17 and between the anchoring elements 15 positioned inside the rails 16 of each vertical upright 13, 14, of an arrangement of tubes or spacer pieces 20 and of spherical olives 21.

The tubes or spacer pieces 20 and the spherical olives 21 have the elastic tie 17 passing through them so that between each tube or spacer piece 20 is positioned a spherical olive 21 providing the deformable connection between each of said tubes or spacer pieces.

This arrangement of tubes 20 and of spherical olives 21 around the elastic tie 17 allows the latter to be prestressed in tension between the anchoring elements 15 held in the rails of the uprights 13, 14.

This prestressing tension of the elastic tie 17 inside the sheaths 18 of the screen or of the flexible curtain 12 makes it possible to ensure that the anchoring elements 15 have a functional clearance inside the rails of each upright 13, 14 of the goods-handling door 100.

Likewise, this prestressing tension of the elastic tie 17 ensures that the screen or flexible curtain 12 has a certain rigidity ensuring that it behaves correctly as it moves between an open position and a closed position.

The arrangement of the tubes or spacer pieces 20 and of the spherical olives 21 around the elastic tie 17 constitutes, along the latter, deformable segments at each spherical olive 21 allowing the arrangement to conform to the deformation of the screen or of the flexible curtain 12 and therefore of the elastic tie 17 when an external force is applied to said screen or flexible curtain.

It must moreover be understood that the foregoing description has been given merely by way of example and that it does not in any way restrict the field of the invention and that replacing the embodiment details described by any other equivalent details would not constitute a departure from the scope of the invention. 

1. Vertically-opening goods-handling door comprising a screen or flexible curtain (12) driven between an open position and a closed position and guided laterally as it moves inside lateral uprights (13, 14), characterized in that it comprises an elastic retaining device (10) which consists of retaining means (11) comprising anchoring elements (15) able to move in a vertical direction inside a profile (16) formed in the lateral and vertical uprights (13, 14) and flexible and elastic elements (17) housed inside sheaths (18) arranged within the thickness of the screen or of the flexible curtain (12) and at regular intervals along the entire height thereof, said retaining means (11), on the one hand, allowing the screen or the flexible curtain (12) to be kept in a movement path between an open position and a closed position and, on the other hand, in the event of an anomaly, allowing the screen or the flexible curtain (12) to deform elastically without the risk of said screen or of said flexible curtain (12) becoming unhinged or ejected from the lateral uprights (13, 14) and to revert to its initial shape after the anomaly has disappeared.
 2. Vertically-opening goods-handling door according to claim 1, characterized in that the retaining means (11) consist of anchoring elements (15) able to move in a vertical direction inside a profile (16) formed in the lateral and vertical uprights (13, 14) and of flexible and elastic elements (17) housed inside sheaths (18) arranged within the thickness of the screen or of the flexible curtain (12) and at regular intervals along the entire height thereof.
 3. Vertically-opening goods-handling door according to claim 2, characterized in that each anchoring element (15) comprises a first part (15 a) of a shape that complements the internal shape of the profile (16) secured to the vertical uprights (13, 14) so as to provide said anchoring element (15) with vertical guidance, and a second part (15 b) allowing the corresponding flexible and elastic element (17) to pass and/or retaining it.
 4. Vertically-opening goods-handling door according to claim 3, characterized in that the second part (15 b) of each anchoring element (15) is provided on the one hand in the continuation of the first part (15 a) and on the other hand pierced with a bore (15 c) for the free passage of the corresponding flexible and elastic element (17), and in that each flexible and elastic element consists of an elastic tie (17) of which each end (17 a) is fixed, after having passed through the bore (15 c), to the screen or flexible curtain (12) at the lateral edges (12 a) thereof.
 5. Vertically-opening goods-handling door according to claim 4, characterized in that the end (17 a) of each elastic tie (17) is fixed to the screen or the flexible curtain (12) by knitting, bonding, welding or riveting.
 6. Vertically-opening goods-handling door according to claim 3, characterized in that each anchoring element (15) comprises a first part (15 a) having an external profile intended to provide guidance inside the internal profile (16) secured to the vertical uprights (13,14) and a second part (15 b) consisting of an internal bore (15 d) passing right through said first part (15 a) and inside which the free end (17 a) of an elastic tie (17) that forms the flexible and elastic element is immobilized.
 7. Vertically-opening goods-handling door according to claim 6, characterized in that the elastic tie (17) is fixed inside the anchoring element (15) by means of a binding screw screwed into the first part (15 a) and emerging at right angles inside the bore (15 d) of the second part (15 b) in order to lock the free end (17 a) of the elastic tie (17) inside said bore.
 8. Vertically-opening goods-handling door according to claim 3, characterized in that a protective end stop (19) is positioned on the elastic tie (17) and on the screen or flexible curtain (12) between the anchoring element (15) and the corresponding lateral edge (12 a) of said screen or said flexible curtain.
 9. Vertically-opening goods-handling door according to claim 2, characterized in that the retaining means (11) comprise, around the elastic tie (17) and between the anchoring elements (15) positioned inside the rails (16) of each vertical upright (13, 14), an arrangement of tubes or spacer pieces (20) and of spherical olives (21) allowing said elastic tie to be tensioned while at the same time ensuring that said anchoring elements have a functional clearance inside said rails.
 10. Vertically-opening goods-handling door according to claim 9, characterized in that the tubes or spacer pieces (20) and the spherical olives (21) have the elastic tie (17) passing through them so that between each tube or spacer piece (20) is positioned a spherical olive (21) providing the deformable connection between each of said tubes or spacer pieces.
 11. Vertically-opening goods-handling door according to claim 4, characterized in that the elastic tie (17) has a round or flat external profile. 